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Kordi R, Andrews TJ, Hicar MD. Infections, genetics, and Alzheimer's disease: Exploring the pathogenic factors for innovative therapies. Virology 2025; 607:110523. [PMID: 40174330 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2025.110523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2025] [Revised: 03/20/2025] [Accepted: 03/26/2025] [Indexed: 04/04/2025]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative condition that creates a significant global health challenge and profoundly affects patients and their families. Recent research has highlighted the critical role of microorganisms, particularly viral infections, in the pathogenesis of AD. The involvement of viral infections in AD pathogenesis is predominantly attributed to their ability to induce neuroinflammation and amyloid beta (Aβ) deposition in the brain. The extant research exploring the relationship between viruses and AD has focused largely on Herpesviridae family. Traces of Herpesviruses, such as Herpes Simplex Virus-1 and Epstein Barr Virus, have been found in the brains of patients with AD. These viruses are thought to contribute to the disease progression by triggering chronic inflammatory responses in the brain. They can remain dormant in the brain, and become reactivated due to stress, a secondary viral infection, or immune-senescence in older adults. This review focuses on the association between Herpesviridae and bacterial infections with AD. We explore the genetic factors that might regulate viral illness and discuss clinical trials investigating antiviral and anti-inflammatory agents as possible therapeutic strategies to mitigate cognitive decline in patients with AD. In summary, understanding the interplay between infections, genetic factors, and AD pathogenesis may pave the way for novel therapeutic approaches, facilitating better management and possibly even prevent this debilitating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh Kordi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Ted J Andrews
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Developmental Pediatrics and Rehabilitation, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA
| | - Mark D Hicar
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, 14203, USA.
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2
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Liu Y, Johnston C, Jarousse N, Fletcher SP, Iqbal S. Association between herpes simplex virus type 1 and the risk of Alzheimer's disease: a retrospective case-control study. BMJ Open 2025; 15:e093946. [PMID: 40393802 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2024-093946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2025] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A growing body of evidence points to a role for herpesviruses in the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and a reduced risk of AD among patients receiving antiherpetic medications. We investigated the association between herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and AD using real-world data (RWD) from USA. DESIGN In a matched case-control study, patients with AD aged ≥50 years diagnosed between 2006 and 2021 were identified from the IQVIA PharMetrics Plus claims database. Controls were matched in a 1:1 ratio with subjects with AD on age, sex, region, database entry year and healthcare visit numbers. RESULTS The study included 344 628 AD case-control pairs. History of HSV-1 diagnosis was present in 1507 (0.44%) patients with AD compared with 823 (0.24%) controls. HSV-1 diagnosis was found to be associated with AD (adjusted OR 1.80; 95% CI 1.65 to 1.96). Patients with HSV-1 who used antiherpetics were less likely to develop AD compared with those who did not use antiherpetics (adjusted HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.92). CONCLUSIONS Findings from this large RWD study implicate HSV-1 in the development of AD and highlight antiherpetic therapies as potentially protective for AD and related dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunhao Liu
- Gilead Sciences Inc, Foster City, California, USA
| | - Christine Johnston
- Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | | | - Shahed Iqbal
- Gilead Sciences Inc, Foster City, California, USA
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3
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Hansen N, Buschatzky V, Bastin AK, Rentzsch K, Teegen B, Luedecke D, Skripuletz T, Maier HB, Bleich S, Gallinat J, Esselmann H, Dunay IR, Zerr I, Fitzner D, Wilftang J, Neyazi A, Schott BH, Malchow B. Neural autoantibodies in psychiatric disorders are associated with antibodies against viral pathogens: a retrospective study of 619 patients. J Neural Transm (Vienna) 2025:10.1007/s00702-025-02943-x. [PMID: 40382511 DOI: 10.1007/s00702-025-02943-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2025] [Indexed: 05/20/2025]
Abstract
A history of viral infection has been associated with a higher risk for psychiatric disorders. One potential underlying mechanism is that antiviral immunological responses could trigger cross-reactivity between viral and neural antigens, which would raise the co-occurrence of antiviral antibodies and anti-neural autoantibodies. We studied 619 patients' psychiatric diagnoses from the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany. Anti-neural autoantibodies and antiviral antibody specific indices were measured in serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from all patients. Among these 619 patients, 115 tested positive for serum and/or CSF neural autoantibodies (18.6%), with the most often identified autoantibodies being anti-GAD65 in serum (2.2%) and CSF (1.6%), and anti-NMDA in serum (0.6%) and CSF (1.3%). The three main diagnostic groups presenting neural autoantibodies were patients with organic psychiatric disorders including dementia (81 of 377; 21.7%), those with psychotic disorders (9 of 66; 13.6%), and patients with affective disorders (19 of 138; 13.9%). Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between the varicella zoster virus (VZV) antibody-specific index and autoantibody positivity in patients with all diagnoses (F00-F79) (p < 0.005). Furthermore, the rubella antibody-specific index proved to be significantly associated with neural autoantibody positivity (p < 0.001) across all patients (F00-F79), and in those with affective disorders (p < 0.01). Our results show that VZV and rubella antiviral antibodies are associated with a higher propensity to develop anti-neural autoantibodies, suggesting that the known association between viral infection and later developing psychiatric disorders may be partly attributable to the development of anti-neural autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Hansen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Vincent Buschatzky
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anne Katharina Bastin
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kristin Rentzsch
- Clinical Immunological Laboratory Prof. Stöcker, Groß Grönau, Germany
| | - Bianca Teegen
- Clinical Immunological Laboratory Prof. Stöcker, Groß Grönau, Germany
| | - Daniel Luedecke
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Hannah Benedictine Maier
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefan Bleich
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jürgen Gallinat
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Hamburg Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hermann Esselmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ildiko Rita Dunay
- Institute for Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Otto-Von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto-Von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Inga Zerr
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dirk Fitzner
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jens Wilftang
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von-Siebold-Str. 3a, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- Neurosciences and Signaling Group, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Alexandra Neyazi
- Department of Psychiatry, Social Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Otto-Von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Björn Hendrik Schott
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences, Otto-Von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von-Siebold-Str. 3a, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Berend Malchow
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Von-Siebold-Str. 5, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
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Chauhan P, Begum MY, Narapureddy BR, Gupta S, Wadhwa K, Singh G, Kumawat R, Sharma N, Ballal S, Jha SK, Abomughaid MM, B D, Ojha S, Jha NK. Unveiling the Involvement of Herpes Simplex Virus-1 in Alzheimer's Disease: Possible Mechanisms and Therapeutic Implications. Mol Neurobiol 2025; 62:5850-5874. [PMID: 39648189 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04535-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2024] [Indexed: 12/10/2024]
Abstract
Viruses pose a significant challenge and threat to human health, as demonstrated by the current COVID-19 pandemic. Neurodegeneration, particularly in the case of Alzheimer's disease (AD), is significantly influenced by viral infections. AD is a neurodegenerative disease that affects people of all ages and poses a significant threat to millions of individuals worldwide. The precise mechanism behind its development is not yet fully understood; however, the emergence and advancement of AD can be hastened by various environmental factors, such as bacterial and viral infections. There has been a longstanding suspicion that the herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) may have a role to play in the development or advancement of AD. Reactivation of HSV-1 could potentially lead to damage to neurons, either by direct means or indirectly by triggering inflammation. This article provides an overview of the connection between HSV-1 infections and immune cells (astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes) in the progression of AD. It summarizes recent scientific research on how HSV-1 affects neurons, which could potentially shed light on the clinical features and treatment options for AD. In addition, the paper has explored the impact of HSV-1 on neurons and its role in various aspects of AD, such as Aβ secretion, tau hyperphosphorylation, metabolic dysregulation, oxidative damage, apoptosis, and autophagy. It is believed that the immune response triggered by HSV-1 reactivation plays a role in the development of neurodegeneration in AD. Despite the lack of a cure for AD, researchers have made significant efforts to study the clinical and pathological aspects of the disease, identify biomarkers, and gain insight into its underlying causes. The goal is to achieve early diagnosis and develop treatments that can modify the progression of the disease. The current article discusses the most promising therapy for combating the viral impacts, which provides additional evidence for the frequent reactivations of latent HSV-1 in the AD brain. However, further research is still required to establish the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the development of AD through the reactivation of HSV-1. This could potentially lead to new insights in drug development aimed at preventing HSV-1 reactivation and the subsequent development and progression of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Payal Chauhan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, 124001, India
| | - M Yasmin Begum
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bayapa Reddy Narapureddy
- Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saurabh Gupta
- Department of Biotechnology, GLA University, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Karan Wadhwa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, 124001, India
| | - Govind Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, 124001, India.
| | - Rohit Kumawat
- Department of Neurology, National Institute of Medical Sciences, NIMS University Rajsthan, Jaipur, India
| | - Naveen Sharma
- Chandigarh Pharmacy College, Chandigarh Group of Colleges Jhanjeri, Mohali, 140307, Punjab, India
| | - Suhas Ballal
- Departmant of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Sciences, JAIN (Deemed to Be University), Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Saurabh Kumar Jha
- Department of Zoology, Kalindi College, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110008, India
| | - Mosleh Mohammad Abomughaid
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Bisha, 61922, Bisha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dheepak B
- Centre for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India
| | - Shreesh Ojha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 15551, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Niraj Kumar Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Biosciences & Technology, Galgotias University, Greater Noida, India.
- Centre for Research Impact & Outcome, Chitkara University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chitkara University, Rajpura, 140401, Punjab, India.
- School of Bioengineering & Biosciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, 144411, India.
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Yan X, Wang E, Zhao M, Ma G, Xu XX, Zhao JB, Li X, Zeng J, Ma X. Microbial infection instigates tau-related pathology in Alzheimer's disease via activating neuroimmune cGAS-STING pathway. Neuroscience 2025; 572:122-133. [PMID: 40064364 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2025.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2024] [Revised: 01/28/2025] [Accepted: 03/08/2025] [Indexed: 03/14/2025]
Abstract
Microbial infection, the strong trigger to directly induce inflammation in brain, is long considered a risk factor of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but how these infections contribute to neurodegeneration remains underexplored. To examine the effect of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection on tauopathy in local hippocampus of P301S mice, we utilized a modified HSV-1 strain (mHSV-1) potentially relevant to AD, we found that its infection promotes tau-related pathology in part via activating neuroimmune cGAS-STING pathway in the tau mouse model. Specifically, Sting ablation causes the detectable improvement of neuronal dysfunction and loss in P301S mice, which is causally linked to lowered proinflammatory status in the brain. Administration of STING inhibitor H-151 alleviates neuroinflammation and tau-related pathology in P301S mice. These results jointly suggest that herpesviral infection, as the vital environmental risk factor, could induce tau-related pathology in AD pathogenesis partially via neuroinflammatory cGAS-STING pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxu Yan
- Department of Neurology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China
| | - Erlin Wang
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201600, China
| | - Meng Zhao
- Department of Neurology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China
| | - Guanqin Ma
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Xiang-Xiong Xu
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Jie-Bin Zhao
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Xiaohong Li
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China
| | - Jianxiong Zeng
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China; Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 201600, China; Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Information, Kunming, Yunnan 650201, China.
| | - Xueling Ma
- Department of Neurology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China.
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Brendborg N, Febbraio MA. Intervention points for the role of physical activity in prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. J Physiol 2025. [PMID: 40237393 DOI: 10.1113/jp286747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2025] [Indexed: 04/18/2025] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a growing global health challenge with limited pharmacological treatments. Epidemiological studies link regular physical activity with a lower risk of AD and cognitive decline in general, whereas randomized controlled trials show that aerobic exercise slows disease progression and improves cognitive function. However the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In this review we discuss five likely intervention points through which physical activity may influence AD progression and pathology: (1) reducing neuroinflammation and amyloid beta (Aβ) aggregation, (2) enhancing clearance of Aβ aggregates, (3) increasing neuronal resilience, (4) promoting hippocampal neurogenesis and (5) strengthening cognitive reserve. Understanding which of these mechanistic links are most likely to drive the AD-protective effects of exercise could help refine lifestyle-based interventions to complement pharmacological treatments and inform future prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicklas Brendborg
- Centre for Physical Activity Research, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mark Anthony Febbraio
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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7
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Blandi L, Bertuccio P, Signorelli C, Brand H, Clemens T, Renzi C, Odone A. Herpes zoster as risk factor for dementia: a matched cohort study over 20 years in a 10-million population in Italy. J Prev Alzheimers Dis 2025:100167. [PMID: 40222838 DOI: 10.1016/j.tjpad.2025.100167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2025] [Revised: 04/03/2025] [Accepted: 04/07/2025] [Indexed: 04/15/2025]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Herpes Zoster is caused by the reactivation of the Varicella-Zoster Virus. Zoster may influence the occurrence of dementia, but contradictory results about this association emerged from recent studies. These findings did not consider the severity of Zoster and observed individuals for limited follow-up time. Our study used a region-wide Italian registry to investigate the association between severe Zoster infection and dementia occurrence over a 23-year period. METHODS We included people aged ≥ 50 and hospitalised with Zoster, and two comparison cohorts from both the general population and the hospitalised population without Zoster. By random sampling, the matching 1:5 was based on sex, birth year, and entry date in the cohort. Dementia and Zoster were identified through validated algorithms. A Fine-Gray sub-distribution hazard model was used, accounting for competing risk of death. RESULTS We identified 132,968 individuals, of whom 12,088 with severe Zoster, 60,440 matched controls among the general population, and 60,440 matched controls among the hospitalised population. In severe cases of Herpes Zoster, the overall adjusted sub-distributed hazard ratio of dementia was 1.13 (95 % CI 1.07-1.19) compared to the general population, and 1.08 (95 % CI 1.03-1.14) compared to hospitalised population. Hazard ratios were still significant in different strata group, including by sex, age group (including in 50-65 younger adults) and at different follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS Our population-based study found an increased risk of developing dementia among severe Zoster cases. Those results support the importance of improving Zoster prevention and extending the vaccination recommendations to younger age groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Blandi
- School of Public Health, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy; Department of International Health, CAPHRI Public Health and Primary Care Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht Netherlands.
| | - Paola Bertuccio
- School of Public Health, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Carlo Signorelli
- School of Public Health, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Helmut Brand
- Department of International Health, CAPHRI Public Health and Primary Care Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht Netherlands
| | - Timo Clemens
- Department of International Health, CAPHRI Public Health and Primary Care Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht Netherlands
| | - Cristina Renzi
- School of Public Health, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Odone
- School of Public Health, Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Medical Direction, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
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Borase H, Patil CD, Valyi-Nagy T, Shukla D. HPSE-mediated proinflammatory signaling contributes to neurobehavioral deficits following intranasal HSV-1 infection. mBio 2025; 16:e0376524. [PMID: 40013778 PMCID: PMC11980599 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03765-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2025] [Indexed: 02/28/2025] Open
Abstract
Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) is a neurotropic virus that can infect the brain, and an uncontrolled infection can lead to a range of diseases, including chronic nerve pain, encephalitis, and neurobehavioral abnormalities. These outcomes are often severe and have lasting consequences, highlighting the need to identify host factors that contribute to disease severity. In this study, we report that intranasal HSV-1 infection in murine model, which promotes viral dissemination into the brain, implicates the host protein heparanase (HPSE) as a key mediator of neuroinflammation. Specifically, we observed that the HPSE activity during HSV-1 infection in naïve animals promotes the upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines, enhances microglial activity in the brain, and contributes to cognitive impairment, anxiety, and motor coordination deficits. Such effects are significantly less detectable in heparanase deficient (Hpse-/-) mice. Additionally, we found that moderate activation of toll-like receptors (TLRs), particularly in Hpse+/+ mice, may contribute to the activation of the inflammasome pathway. This, in turn, leads to the activation of caspase-1 (Casp1) and caspase-3 (Casp3), which may play a role in nerve function loss. Our findings position HPSE as a potential therapeutic target for mitigating virus-induced neuroinflammation and neurobehavioral defects. IMPORTANCE Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) infection in the brain can lead to severe and often permanent neurological consequences. Host factors influence disease outcomes in response to infection, and understanding these factors is crucial for developing effective therapies. This study identifies the host protein HPSE as a key mediator of neuroinflammation in response to HSV-1 infection. We demonstrate that the HPSE activity drives proinflammatory cytokine expression and microglial activation and promotes a signaling cascade involving toll-like receptors and caspase activation, potentially intensifying neuroinflammatory responses. These findings implicate HPSE as an important player in HSV-1 pathogenesis in the central nervous system and suggest that targeting HPSE could provide a novel therapeutic strategy to mitigate virus-induced neuroinflammation and neurobehavioral disturbance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hemant Borase
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Chandrashekhar D. Patil
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Tibor Valyi-Nagy
- Department of Pathology, Neuropathology Service, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Deepak Shukla
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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9
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Kehs Z, Cross AC, Li YM. From defense to disease: IFITM3 in immunity and Alzheimer's disease. Neurotherapeutics 2025; 22:e00482. [PMID: 39516072 PMCID: PMC12047391 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2024] [Revised: 10/24/2024] [Accepted: 10/28/2024] [Indexed: 11/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Innate immunity protein interferon induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) is a transmembrane protein that has a wide array of functions, including in viral infections, Alzheimer's Disease (AD), and cancer. As an interferon stimulated gene (ISG), IFITM3's expression is upregulated by type-I, II, and III interferons. Moreover, the antiviral activity of IFITM3 is modulated by post-translational modifications. IFITM3 functions in innate immunity to disrupt viral fusion and entry to the plasma membrane as well as prevent viral escape from endosomes. As a γ-secretase modulatory protein, IFITM3 distinctly modulates the processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) to generate amyloid beta peptides (Aβ) and Notch1 cleavages. Increased IFITM3 expression, which can result from aging, cytokine activation, inflammation, and infection, can lead to an upregulation of γ-secretase for Aβ production that causes a risk of AD. Therefore, the prevention of IFITM3 upregulation has potential in the development of novel therapies for the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe Kehs
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Programs of Pharmacology, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Abigail C Cross
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Programs of Neuroscience, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yue-Ming Li
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Programs of Pharmacology, Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
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10
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Ijezie EC, Miller MJ, Hardy C, Jarvis AR, Czajka TF, D'Brant L, Rugenstein N, Waickman A, Murphy E, Butler DC. Herpes simplex virus-1 infection alters microtubule-associated protein Tau splicing and promotes Tau pathology in neural models of Alzheimer's disease. Brain Pathol 2025:e70006. [PMID: 40143446 DOI: 10.1111/bpa.70006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2025] [Indexed: 03/28/2025] Open
Abstract
Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection alters critical markers of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in neurons. One key marker of AD is the hyperphosphorylation of Tau, accompanied by altered levels of Tau isoforms. However, an imbalance in these Tau splice variants, specifically resulting from altered 3R to 4R MAPT splicing of exon 10, has yet to be directly associated with HSV-1 infection. To this end, we infected 2D and 3D human neural models with HSV-1 and monitored MAPT splicing and Tau phosphorylation. Further, we transduced SH-SY5Y neurons with HSV-1 ICP27, which alters RNA splicing, to analyze if ICP27 alone is sufficient to induce altered MAPT exon 10 splicing. We show that HSV-1 infection induces altered splicing of MAPT exon 10, increasing 4R-Tau protein levels, Tau hyperphosphorylation, and Tau oligomerization. Our experiments reveal a novel link between HSV-1 infection and the development of cytopathic phenotypes linked with AD progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel C Ijezie
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | | | - Celine Hardy
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Ava R Jarvis
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Natasha Rugenstein
- Regenerative Research Foundation, Neural Stem Cell Institute, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Adam Waickman
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Eain Murphy
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - David C Butler
- Regenerative Research Foundation, Neural Stem Cell Institute, Albany, New York, USA
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Araya K, Watson R, Khanipov K, Golovko G, Taglialatela G. Increased risk of dementia associated with herpes simplex virus infections: Evidence from a retrospective cohort study using U.S. electronic health records. J Alzheimers Dis 2025; 104:393-402. [PMID: 39956964 DOI: 10.1177/13872877251317228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/18/2025]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease is the most common age-related dementia. Recent compelling evidence from previous retrospective electronic health record (EHRs) studies suggests that herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections may be a risk factor for developing dementia. However, no age and propensity score matched studies have been published in a United States general population cohort study to date. OBJECTIVE We aimed to identify whether HSV infection shows a significantly increased risk of the development of dementia in a sizable and heterogeneous cohort. We investigated whether herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2), or coinfections with both serotypes pose a greater risk of developing dementia across different biological sexes and racial groups. METHODS EHRs from patients with a history of HSV or specific serotypes (HSV1 or HSV2) infection were selected for analysis. These records were compared to a propensity-matched control group and analyzed for hazard and odds ratios through TriNetX. RESULTS There was a significant difference in dementia incidence in the HSV-infected group versus the control. Individuals with a history of HSV, HSV1, HSV2, and coinfection all showed a significant risk of developing dementia compared to controls. Males with HSV2 are at a higher risk of dementia outcome than females with HSV2. CONCLUSIONS While consistent with previous reports, these findings are the first to establish a higher risk of developing dementia in patients who have any HSV diagnosis using a nationwide, population-based matched cohort study in the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Araya
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Graduate Program, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Riley Watson
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
- University of Texas Medical Branch Graduate Program Human Pathophysiology and Translational Medicine, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Kamil Khanipov
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Graduate Program, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - George Golovko
- Pharmacology and Toxicology Graduate Program, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Giulio Taglialatela
- Mitchell Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Department of Neurology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
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12
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D'Aiuto L, Caldwell JK, Edwards TG, Zhou C, McDonald ML, Di Maio R, Joel WA, Hyde VR, Wallace CT, Watkins SC, Wesesky MA, Shemesh OA, Nimgaonkar VL, Bloom DC. Phosphorylated-tau associates with HSV-1 chromatin and correlates with nuclear speckles decondensation in low-density host chromatin regions. Neurobiol Dis 2025; 206:106804. [PMID: 39818277 PMCID: PMC12001802 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2025.106804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2024] [Revised: 01/08/2025] [Accepted: 01/10/2025] [Indexed: 01/18/2025] Open
Abstract
Abnormal tau phosphorylation is a key mechanism in neurodegenerative diseases. Evidence implicates infectious agents, such as Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1), as co-factors in the onset or the progression of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. This has led to divergence in the field regarding the contribution of viruses in the etiology of neurodegenerative diseases. Research indicates that viruses may function as risk factors driving neurodegenerative disease rather than playing a causative role. Investigating HSV-1 in abnormal tau phosphorylation is important for understanding the role of infectious agents in neurodegeneration. We generated cellular models of HSV-1 acute, latent infection, and viral reactivation from latency in cortical brain organoids and investigated the interplay between tau phosphorylation and HSV-1 infection by employing human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived monolayer neuronal cultures and brain organoids. Acute infection with HSV-1 strains 17syn+ and KOS caused nuclear accumulation of phosphorylated tau (p-tau) in neurons and neural precursor cells. Antivirals prevented nuclear accumulation of p-tau. Viral reactivation was accompanied by the nuclear translocation of p-tau. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis indicated an interaction of p-tau with the viral chromatin. A reduction in abundance of component of nuclear speckles and their loss of organized morphology in low-denisty host chromatin regions was observed, with strain-specific differences. HSV-1 infection was followed by an increase in the abundance of BRSKs and TAOKs, kinases known to phosphorylate tau. These findings show interaction between p-tau and HSV-1 chromatin and demonstrate the ability of HSV-1 to activate mechanisms that are observed in Alzheimer's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo D'Aiuto
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America.
| | - Jill K Caldwell
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America
| | - Terri G Edwards
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States of America
| | - Chaoming Zhou
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 4074 Biomedical Science Tower 3, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America
| | - Matthew L McDonald
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America
| | - Roberto Di Maio
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3501 Fifth Ave, Biological Science Tower 3, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, United States of America
| | - Wood A Joel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America
| | - Vanesa R Hyde
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 4074 Biomedical Science Tower 3, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America
| | - Callen T Wallace
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3500 Terrace Street, S362 Biomedical Science Tower (South), Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States of America
| | - Simon C Watkins
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh, 3500 Terrace Street, S362 Biomedical Science Tower (South), Pittsburgh, PA 15261, United States of America
| | - Maribeth A Wesesky
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America
| | - Or A Shemesh
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 4074 Biomedical Science Tower 3, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America
| | - Vishwajit L Nimgaonkar
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America
| | - David C Bloom
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States of America
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13
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Li X, Pei R, Fei Z, Chen Z, Lin F, Sun P, Cao H. Could Blood Transfusion Increase the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease? A Narrative Review. Healthcare (Basel) 2025; 13:452. [PMID: 40077014 PMCID: PMC11898722 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare13050452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2024] [Revised: 02/05/2025] [Accepted: 02/18/2025] [Indexed: 03/14/2025] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common progressive neurodegenerative disease, and its pathogenesis is complex. In addition to amyloid-β and phosphorylated tau, inflammation and microbial infections also play a role in the development of AD. Currently, there is no effective clinical intervention to cure AD or completely halt its progression. Blood transfusion, a critical life-saving medical procedure widely employed in modern healthcare, faces growing demand due to global population aging. However, whether blood transfusion could increase the risk of AD is still not clear. Aβ and tau play major roles in the pathogenesis of AD and may possess the potential for transmission through blood transfusion. Iron overload and chronic inflammation, which can independently influence AD pathogenesis, may result from repeated transfusions. Additionally, herpesvirus, known to accelerate AD progression, can also be potentially transmitted by blood transfusion. In this study, recent advances in the associations between blood transfusion and the occurrence and development of AD were reviewed, and whether blood transfusion could increase the risk of AD was discussed. Furthermore, the related proposals for blood management and future research were advanced to provide references for the prevention and control of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Pan Sun
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Chengdu 610052, China; (X.L.); (R.P.); (Z.F.); (Z.C.); (F.L.)
| | - Haijun Cao
- Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Chengdu 610052, China; (X.L.); (R.P.); (Z.F.); (Z.C.); (F.L.)
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14
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Sheikh MA, Moon MP, Wright CB, Gutierrez J, Liu M, Rundek T, Cheung K, Hornig M, Elkind MS. Association of a multiplex immune marker panel with incident cognitive impairment and dementia: The Northern Manhattan Study. Brain Behav Immun Health 2025; 43:100937. [PMID: 39867843 PMCID: PMC11757223 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2024.100937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 11/01/2024] [Accepted: 12/21/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2025] Open
Abstract
Objective To determine whether a panel of immune markers adds significant information to known correlates of risk of dementia and cognitive impairment. Background The impact of immune mechanisms on dementia risk is incompletely characterized. Design/methods A subsample of the Northern Manhattan Study, a prospective cohort study in the racially/ethnically diverse population of New York City, underwent comprehensive neuropsychological testing up to three times, at approximately 5-year intervals. Cognitive outcomes were adjudicated as no cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or dementia. Immune markers were assessed using a multiplex immunoassay on plasma samples collected at the time of the first neuropsychological test. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) techniques were employed to yield a panel of immune markers linearly related to the outcome of dementia/MCI vs. no cognitive impairment. Nested logistic regression models were run to determine the independent association of the immune marker panel with dementia/MCI after adjusting for other predictors of risk. Results Among 1179 participants (mean age 70.0 ± 8.9 years, 60% women, 68% Hispanic), immune markers improved model fit above demographic and vascular risk factors (p-value for likelihood ratio test <0.0001) as correlates of MCI/dementia. Individual immune markers found to be associated with dementia/MCI were C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 9 (CXCL9) and C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 2 (CCL2). The effect of the immune markers was comparable to traditional risk factors, with CCL2 (per SD) having almost the same effect as 1 year of aging and CXCL9 (per SD) showing approximately twice this magnitude. Conclusion Immune markers are associated with cognitive decline and dementia outcomes in a multi-ethnic cohort. More work is needed to further characterize these associations and determine therapeutic strategies. (Funded by the National Institute of Health/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke; grant number R01 29993 (Sacco/Elkind)).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Abdurrehman Sheikh
- Department of Neurology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center at Shreveport, Shreveport, LA, USA
| | - Michelle P. Moon
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Jose Gutierrez
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Minghua Liu
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tatjana Rundek
- Departments of Neurology, Epidemiology, and Human Genetics, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Ken Cheung
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mady Hornig
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mitchell S.V. Elkind
- Department of Neurology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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15
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Wurm R, Klotz S, Erber A, Gruber F, Leitner S, Reichardt B, Stögmann E, Schernhammer E, Gelpi E, Cetin H. Mood Alterations in the Prodromal Phase of Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. JAMA Neurol 2025; 82:185-192. [PMID: 39786417 PMCID: PMC11811795 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2024.4447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2024] [Accepted: 10/29/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2025]
Abstract
Importance Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) is a rare, rapidly progressive and fatal neurodegenerative disease. Definite sCJD diagnosis can only be made post mortem, and little is known about the prodromal phase of the disease. Objective To compare drug prescription patterns before the clinical onset of sCJD between patients and matched controls for exploration of potential risk factors and to assess correlations between drug exposure and sCJD survival. Design, Setting, and Participants This retrospective analysis was designed as a case-control study, with data collected from January 2013 to December 2020 and analyzed in 2023. Follow-up was available until December 2020. Cases were collected from the Austrian Reference Centre for Human Prion Diseases, which receives all suspected cases at a national level in Austria. The analyses were conducted at a single center. Patients with autopsy-confirmed sCJD were linked with insurance claims data, and a minimum of 10 control individuals were matched by sex, age at onset, and area of residence for each patient with sCJD. Exposure Medication prescribed to 10% or more of the cohort with sCJD up to 5 years before symptom onset or the matching date in the control cohort. Main Outcomes and Measures Drug prescription before symptom onset or the matching date was compared between patients with sCJD and controls using conditional regression, and prescriptions in the cohort with sCJD were assessed for correlation with survival using Cox proportional hazard models. Results A total of 129 patients with sCJD (median [IQR] age, 68.9 [62.4-75.5] years; 67 female [51.9%]) and 1350 controls (median [IQR] age, 69.0 [62.2-75.3] years; 700 female [51.9%]) were included. As compared with controls, patients with sCJD were found to have significantly higher odds of being prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the year preceding disease onset (odds ratio, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.63-4.95; P < .001). SSRI prescription rates started to increase 3 years before symptom onset in the cohort with sCJD. Conclusions and Relevance Results of this case-control study provide evidence for prodromal mood alterations as early as 3 years before symptom onset in patients with sCJD. Although sCJD remains an extremely rare cause of mood alterations, increased vigilance for neurodegenerative diseases in this setting could eventually help to extend the diagnostic window.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphael Wurm
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sigrid Klotz
- Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Division of Neuropathology and Neurochemistry, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Austrian Reference Center for Human Prion Diseases, Vienna, Austria
| | - Astrid Erber
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Felix Gruber
- Main Association of Austrian Social Security Institutions, Austria
| | - Stefan Leitner
- Main Association of Austrian Social Security Institutions, Austria
| | - Berthold Reichardt
- Austrian Social Health Insurance Fund, Österreichische Gesundheitskasse, Eisenstadt, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Stögmann
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eva Schernhammer
- Department of Epidemiology, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ellen Gelpi
- Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Division of Neuropathology and Neurochemistry, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Austrian Reference Center for Human Prion Diseases, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hakan Cetin
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Comprehensive Center for Clinical Neurosciences and Mental Health, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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16
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Zheng Q, Wang X. Alzheimer's disease: insights into pathology, molecular mechanisms, and therapy. Protein Cell 2025; 16:83-120. [PMID: 38733347 PMCID: PMC11786724 DOI: 10.1093/procel/pwae026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD), the leading cause of dementia, is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. This condition casts a significant shadow on global health due to its complex and multifactorial nature. In addition to genetic predispositions, the development of AD is influenced by a myriad of risk factors, including aging, systemic inflammation, chronic health conditions, lifestyle, and environmental exposures. Recent advancements in understanding the complex pathophysiology of AD are paving the way for enhanced diagnostic techniques, improved risk assessment, and potentially effective prevention strategies. These discoveries are crucial in the quest to unravel the complexities of AD, offering a beacon of hope for improved management and treatment options for the millions affected by this debilitating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuyang Zheng
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Xiamen University, Shenzhen 518057, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Xiamen University, Shenzhen 518057, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disease and Aging Research, Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
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17
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Mertaş B, Boşgelmez İİ. The Role of Genetic, Environmental, and Dietary Factors in Alzheimer's Disease: A Narrative Review. Int J Mol Sci 2025; 26:1222. [PMID: 39940989 PMCID: PMC11818526 DOI: 10.3390/ijms26031222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2024] [Revised: 01/26/2025] [Accepted: 01/28/2025] [Indexed: 02/16/2025] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common and severe forms of dementia and neurodegenerative disease. As life expectancy increases in line with developments in medicine, the elderly population is projected to increase in the next few decades; therefore, an increase in the prevalence of some diseases, such as AD, is also expected. As a result, until a radical treatment becomes available, AD is expected to be more frequently recorded as one of the top causes of death worldwide. Given the current lack of a cure for AD, and the only treatments available being ones that alleviate major symptoms, the identification of contributing factors that influence disease incidence is crucial. In this context, genetic and/or epigenetic factors, mainly environmental, disease-related, dietary, or combinations/interactions of these factors, are assessed. In this review, we conducted a literature search focusing on environmental factors such as air pollution, toxic elements, pesticides, and infectious agents, as well as dietary factors including various diets, vitamin D deficiency, social factors (e.g., tobacco and alcohol use), and variables that are affected by both environmental and genetic factors, such as dietary behavior and gut microbiota. We also evaluated studies on the beneficial effects of antibiotics and diets, such as the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) and Mediterranean diets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beyza Mertaş
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Düzce University, Düzce 81010, Türkiye;
| | - İ. İpek Boşgelmez
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Erciyes University, Kayseri 38280, Türkiye
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18
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Krakowiak PA, Flores ME, Cuddy SR, Whitford AL, Dochnal SA, Babnis A, Miyake T, Tigano M, Engel DA, Cliffe AR. Co-option of mitochondrial nucleic acid-sensing pathways by HSV-1 UL12.5 for reactivation from latent infection. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2025; 122:e2413965122. [PMID: 39854226 PMCID: PMC11789124 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2413965122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 12/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2025] Open
Abstract
Although viruses subvert innate immune pathways for their replication, there is evidence they can also co-opt antiviral responses for their benefit. The ubiquitous human pathogen, Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), encodes a protein (UL12.5) that induces the release of mitochondrial nucleic acid into the cytosol, which activates immune-sensing pathways and reduces productive replication in nonneuronal cells. HSV-1 establishes latency in neurons and can reactivate to cause disease. We found that UL12.5 is required for HSV-1 reactivation in neurons and acts to directly promote viral lytic gene expression during initial exit from latency. Further, the direct activation of innate immune-sensing pathways triggered HSV-1 reactivation and compensated for a lack of UL12.5. Finally, we found that the induction of HSV-1 lytic genes during reactivation required intact RNA- and DNA-sensing pathways, demonstrating that HSV-1 can respond to and active antiviral nucleic acid-sensing pathways to reactivate from a latent infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patryk A. Krakowiak
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA22908
| | - Matthew E. Flores
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA22908
| | - Sean R. Cuddy
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA22908
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA22908
| | - Abigail L. Whitford
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA22908
| | - Sara A. Dochnal
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA22908
| | - Aleksandra Babnis
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA22908
| | - Tsuyoshi Miyake
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA22908
| | - Marco Tigano
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA19107
| | - Daniel A. Engel
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA22908
| | - Anna R. Cliffe
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA22908
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19
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Hyde VR, Zhou C, Fernandez JR, Chatterjee K, Ramakrishna P, Lin A, Fisher GW, Çeliker OT, Caldwell J, Bender O, Sauer PJ, Lugo-Martinez J, Bar DZ, D'Aiuto L, Shemesh OA. Anti-herpetic tau preserves neurons via the cGAS-STING-TBK1 pathway in Alzheimer's disease. Cell Rep 2025; 44:115109. [PMID: 39753133 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.115109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 12/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2025] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis relies on the presence of extracellular β-amyloid (Aβ) and intracellular hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau). Emerging evidence suggests a potential link between AD pathologies and infectious agents, with herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) being a leading candidate. Our investigation, using metagenomics, mass spectrometry, western blotting, and decrowding expansion pathology, detects HSV-1-associated proteins in human brain samples. Expression of the herpesvirus protein ICP27 increases with AD severity and strongly colocalizes with p-tau but not with Aβ. Modeling in human brain organoids shows that HSV-1 infection elevates tau phosphorylation. Notably, p-tau reduces ICP27 expression and markedly decreases post-infection neuronal death from 64% to 7%. This modeling prompts investigation into the cGAS-STING-TBK1 pathway products, nuclear factor (NF)-κB and IRF-3, which colocalizes with ICP27 and p-tau in AD. Furthermore, experimental activation of STING enhances tau phosphorylation, while TBK1 inhibition prevents it. Together, these findings suggest that tau phosphorylation acts as an innate immune response in AD, driven by cGAS-STING.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanesa R Hyde
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Chaoming Zhou
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Juan R Fernandez
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Krishnashis Chatterjee
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Pururav Ramakrishna
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Amanda Lin
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Gregory W Fisher
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Chemistry, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Orhan Tunç Çeliker
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Jill Caldwell
- Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Omer Bender
- Department of Oral Biology, Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Peter Joseph Sauer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Jose Lugo-Martinez
- Computational Biology Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Daniel Z Bar
- Department of Oral Biology, Goldschleger School of Dental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Leonardo D'Aiuto
- Department of Psychiatry, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Or A Shemesh
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112102, Israel; Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, USA.
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20
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Farrer TJ, Moore JD, Chase M, Gale SD, Hedges DW. Infectious Disease as a Modifiable Risk Factor for Dementia: A Narrative Review. Pathogens 2024; 13:974. [PMID: 39599527 PMCID: PMC11597442 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13110974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2024] [Revised: 10/31/2024] [Accepted: 11/05/2024] [Indexed: 11/29/2024] Open
Abstract
This narrative review examines infectious diseases as modifiable risk factors for dementia, particularly in the context of an aging global population. As the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias is expected to rise, prevention has become increasingly important due to the limited efficacy of current treatments. Emerging evidence links specific infectious diseases to increased dementia risk, possibly through mechanisms like neuroinflammation and disruption to normal cell function. Here, we review findings on how viral and bacterial infections contribute to dementia and explore potentially preventive measures, including vaccinations and antiviral treatments. Studies indicate that vaccinations against influenza, herpes zoster, and hepatitis, as well as antiviral treatments targeting human herpesvirus, could reduce the incidence of dementia. Additionally, non-pharmaceutical interventions during pandemics and in long-term care settings are highlighted as effective strategies for reducing the spread of infectious diseases, potentially lowering dementia risk. Putative mechanisms underlying the protective effects of these interventions suggest that reducing systemic inflammation may be important to their efficacy. While the currently available evidence suggests at best an association between some infectious diseases and dementia, this narrative review emphasizes the need to incorporate infectious disease prevention into broader public health strategies to potentially mitigate the growing burden of dementia. Further research is required to explore these preventive measures across diverse populations and to deepen our understanding of the biological mechanisms involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas J. Farrer
- Idaho WWAMI Medical Education Program, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;
| | - Jonathan D. Moore
- Idaho WWAMI Medical Education Program, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;
| | - Morgan Chase
- The Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA; (M.C.); (S.D.G.); (D.W.H.)
| | - Shawn D. Gale
- The Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA; (M.C.); (S.D.G.); (D.W.H.)
- The Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
| | - Dawson W. Hedges
- The Neuroscience Center, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA; (M.C.); (S.D.G.); (D.W.H.)
- The Department of Psychology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA
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Ijezie EC, Miller MJ, Hardy C, Jarvis AR, Czajka TF, D'Brant L, Rugenstein N, Waickman A, Murphy E, Butler DC. HSV-1 Infection Alters MAPT Splicing and Promotes Tau Pathology in Neural Models of Alzheimer's Disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.10.16.618683. [PMID: 39464083 PMCID: PMC11507845 DOI: 10.1101/2024.10.16.618683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/29/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) infection alters critical markers of Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in neurons. One key marker of AD is the hyperphosphorylation of Tau, accompanied by altered levels of Tau isoforms. However, an imbalance in these Tau splice variants, specifically resulting from altered 3R to 4R MAPT splicing of exon 10, has yet to be directly associated with HSV-1 infection. METHODS To this end, we infected 2D and 3D human neural models with HSV-1 and monitored MAPT splicing and Tau phosphorylation. Further, we transduced SH-SY5Y-neurons with HSV-1 ICP27 which alters RNA splicing to analyze if ICP27 alone is sufficient to induce altered MAPT exon 10 splicing. RESULTS We show that HSV-1 infection induces altered splicing of MAPT exon 10, increasing 4R-Tau protein levels, Tau hyperphosphorylation, and Tau oligomerization. DISCUSSION Our experiments reveal a novel link between HSV-1 infection and the development of cytopathic phenotypes linked with AD progression. HIGHLIGHTS HSV-1 infection in forebrain organoids reduces the neurite length of MAP2-positive neurons.HSV-1 infection increases Tau hyperphosphorylation in both two-month-old and four-month-old forebrain organoids. HSV-1 infection increases Exon 10 containing (4R) MAPT mRNA and 4R-Tau protein expression in both forebrain organoids and human SH-SY5Y-neurons. HSV-1 ICP27 is both necessary and sufficient to induce increased 4R MAPT mRNA and 4R-Tau protein expression in SH-SY5Y-neurons. HSV-1 infection increases Tau oligomerization in both forebrain organoids and SH-SY5Y-neurons.
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Shi R, Yu S, Larbi A, Pin Ng T, Lu Y. Specific and cumulative infection burden and mild cognitive impairment and dementia: A population-based study. Brain Behav Immun 2024; 121:155-164. [PMID: 39043350 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2024.07.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Infection by pathogenic microbes is widely hypothesized to be a risk factor for the development of neurocognitive disorders and dementia, but evidence remains limited. We analyzed the association of seropositivity to 11 common pathogens and cumulative infection burden with neurocognitive disorder (mild cognitive impairment and dementia) in a population-based cohort of 475 older individuals (mean age = 67.6 y) followed up over 3-5 years for the risk of MCI-dementia. Specific seropositivities showed a preponderance of positive trends of association with MCI-dementia, including for Plasmodium, H. pylori, and RSV (p < 0.05), as well as Chickungunya, HSV-2, CMV and EBV (p > 0.05), while HSV-1 and HHV-6 showed equivocal or no associations, and Dengue and VZV showed negative associations (p < 0.05) with MCI-dementia. High infection burden (5 + cumulated infections) was significantly associated with an increased MCI-dementia risk in comparison with low infection burden (1-3 cumulative infections), adjusted for age, sex, and education. Intriguingly, for a majority (8 of 11) of pathogens, levels of antibody titers were significantly lower in those with MCI-dementia compared to cognitive normal individuals. Based on our observations, we postulate that individuals who are unable to mount strong immunological responses to infection by diverse microorganisms, and therefore more vulnerable to infection by greater numbers of different microbial pathogens or repeated infections to the same pathogen in the course of their lifetime are more likely to develop MCI or dementia. This hypothesis should be tested in more studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Shi
- Department of Medical Psychology and Ethics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, China
| | - Shuyan Yu
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Mental Disorders, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, China
| | - Anis Larbi
- Biology of Aging Laboratory, Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore; Geriatrics Division, Department of Medicine, Research Center on Aging, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
| | - Tze Pin Ng
- Gerontology Research Programme, Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Health System, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yanxia Lu
- Department of Medical Psychology and Ethics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, China.
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23
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Zhang S, Lu J, Jin Z, Xu H, Zhang D, Chen J, Wang J. Gut microbiota metabolites: potential therapeutic targets for Alzheimer's disease? Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1459655. [PMID: 39355779 PMCID: PMC11442227 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1459655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 10/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive decline in cognitive function, which significantly increases pain and social burden. However, few therapeutic interventions are effective in preventing or mitigating the progression of AD. An increasing number of recent studies support the hypothesis that the gut microbiome and its metabolites may be associated with upstream regulators of AD pathology. Methods In this review, we comprehensively explore the potential mechanisms and currently available interventions targeting the microbiome for the improvement of AD. Our discussion is structured around modern research advancements in AD, the bidirectional communication between the gut and brain, the multi-target regulatory effects of microbial metabolites on AD, and therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating gut microbiota to manage AD. Results The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AD through continuous bidirectional communication via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Among these, microbial metabolites such as lipids, amino acids, bile acids and neurotransmitters, especially sphingolipids and phospholipids, may serve as central components of the gut-brain axis, regulating AD-related pathogenic mechanisms including β-amyloid metabolism, Tau protein phosphorylation, and neuroinflammation. Additionally, interventions such as probiotic administration, fecal microbiota transplantation, and antibiotic use have also provided evidence supporting the association between gut microbiota and AD. At the same time, we propose an innovative strategy for treating AD: a healthy lifestyle combined with targeted probiotics and other potential therapeutic interventions, aiming to restore intestinal ecology and microbiota balance. Conclusion Despite previous efforts, the molecular mechanisms by which gut microbes act on AD have yet to be fully described. However, intestinal microorganisms may become an essential target for connecting the gut-brain axis and improving the symptoms of AD. At the same time, it requires joint exploration by multiple centers and multiple disciplines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Zhang
- The School to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Jing Lu
- Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Ziqi Jin
- The School to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Hanying Xu
- Department of Encephalopathy, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Jianan Chen
- The School to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Encephalopathy, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
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24
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Bathini P, Brai E, Balin BJ, Bimler L, Corry DB, Devanand DP, Doty RL, Ehrlich GD, Eimer WA, Fulop T, Hahn DL, Hammond CJ, Infanti J, Itzhaki R, Lathe R, Little CS, McLeod R, Moein ST, Nelson AR, Perry G, Shemesh OA, Tanzi RE, Webley WC, Schultek NM, Alberi Auber L. Sensory Dysfunction, Microbial Infections, and Host Responses in Alzheimer's Disease. J Infect Dis 2024; 230:S150-S164. [PMID: 39255393 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiae328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Sensory functions of organs of the head and neck allow humans to interact with the environment and establish social bonds. With aging, smell, taste, vision, and hearing decline. Evidence suggests that accelerated impairment in sensory abilities can reflect a shift from healthy to pathological aging, including the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurological disorders. While the drivers of early sensory alteration in AD are not elucidated, insults such as trauma and infections can affect sensory function. Herein, we review the involvement of the major head and neck sensory systems in AD, with emphasis on microbes exploiting sensory pathways to enter the brain (the "gateway" hypothesis) and the potential feedback loop by which sensory function may be impacted by central nervous system infection. We emphasize detection of sensory changes as first-line surveillance in senior adults to identify and remove potential insults, like microbial infections, that could precipitate brain pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Bathini
- Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Brian J Balin
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Intracell Research Group, LLC, Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lynn Bimler
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - David B Corry
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Medicine, Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Biology of Inflammation Center, and the Michael E. DeBakey VA Center for Translational Research in Inflammatory Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Biology of Inflammation Center, and the Michael E. DeBakey VA Center for Translational Research in Inflammatory Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Davangere P Devanand
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, Irving Medical Center, Columbia University, New York, USA
| | - Richard L Doty
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Smell and Taste Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Garth D Ehrlich
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Center for Genomic Sciences, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - William A Eimer
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Tamas Fulop
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Research Center on Aging, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
| | - David L Hahn
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Intracell Research Group, LLC, Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
| | - Christine J Hammond
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Division of Research, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joseph Infanti
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Division of Research, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ruth Itzhaki
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Institute of Population Ageing, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Lathe
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Division of Infection Medicine, University of Edinburgh Medical School, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Scott Little
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rima McLeod
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Department of Pediatrics Infectious Diseases, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Shima T Moein
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Smell and Taste Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Amy R Nelson
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama, USA
| | - George Perry
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Intracell Research Group, LLC, Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Or A Shemesh
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Intracell Research Group, LLC, Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Rudolph E Tanzi
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Wilmore C Webley
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Intracell Research Group, LLC, Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nikki M Schultek
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Intracell Research Group, LLC, Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lavinia Alberi Auber
- The Alzheimer's Pathobiome Initiative (AlzPI), Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- BrainFit4Life, Fribourg, Switzerland
- Intracell Research Group, LLC, Wake Forest, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
- VitalizeDx, Epalinges, Switzerland
- VitalizeDx Eu, Trieste, Italy
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Georgopoulos AP, James LM. Immunogenetic profiles of 9 human herpes virus envelope glycoproteins. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20924. [PMID: 39251790 PMCID: PMC11385983 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-71558-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Human herpes viruses (HHV) are ubiquitous and have been implicated in numerous long-term health conditions. Since the association between viral exposure and long-term health impacts is partially influenced by variation in human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes, we evaluated in silico the binding affinities of 9 HHV envelope glycoproteins with 127 common HLA Class I and Class II molecules. The findings show substantial variability in HHV binding affinity across viruses, HLA Class, HLA genes, and HLA alleles. Specific findings were as follows: (1) the predicted binding affinities of HHVs were characterized by four distinct groupings-[HHV1, HHV2], [HHV3, HHV4, HHV5], [HHV6A], [HHV6B, HHV7, HHV8]-with relatively lower binding affinities for HHV1, HHV2, and HHV6a compared to other HHVs; (2) significantly higher binding affinity was found for HLA Class I relative to Class II; (3) analyses within each class demonstrated that alleles of the C gene (for Class I) and DRB1 gene (for Class II) had the highest binding affinities; and (4) for each virus, predicted binding affinity to specific alleles varied, with HHV6a having the lowest affinity for HHV-HLA complexes, and HHV3, HHV4, and HHV5 having the highest. Since HLA-antigen binding is the first step in initiating an immune response to foreign antigens, these relative differences in HHV binding affinities are likely to influence long-term health impacts such that the cells infected with viruses associated with higher binding affinities across common HLA alleles may be more reduced in numbers, thereby lowering the potential for long-term sequelae of their infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apostolos P Georgopoulos
- The HLA Research Group, Brain Sciences Center, Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis VAMC, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
- Institute for Health Informatics, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
| | - Lisa M James
- The HLA Research Group, Brain Sciences Center, Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Minneapolis VAMC, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN, 55417, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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Yao CY, Chung CH, Chien WC, Li ST, Lee ST, Huang CC, Yang CC, Tzeng NS. Ectopic pregnancy, its potential links to dementia risk and interactions with depression: insights from a nationwide cohort study. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1410685. [PMID: 39279812 PMCID: PMC11392761 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1410685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Dementia poses a growing global mental health impact, with variations in prevalence by gender, possibly influenced by reproductive factors. Ectopic pregnancy (EP), known for its association with cardiovascular diseases and depression, which are also predictors of dementia, prompted an exploration of their interplay. Methods Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, this nationwide cohort study examined 53,096 individuals to investigate the link between EP and dementia. Covariates included age, insured premiums, comorbidity by Charlson Comorbidity Index revised by excluding dementia, level of care, and residence. Surgical approaches, number of EP episodes, and dementia subtypes were considered in outcomes analysis using Cox regression. Results Among 13,274 women diagnosed with EP, 791 developed dementia over a 15-year follow-up, particularly vascular dementia. Adjusting for the covariates, the adjusted sub-distribution Hazard Ratio (asHR) with competing risks was 1.644 (95% CI, 1.394-2.053; p < 0.001). For patients with more than one episode, it was even higher (asHR=1.670 [95% CI, 1.419-2.092; p < 0.001]). Post-ectopic depression, prevalent in 62.2% within four weeks, was associated with a greater dementia risk compared to those without (asHR=1.702 [95% CI, 1.444-2.125; p<0.001] vs. asHR=1.551 [95%CI, 1.310-1.937; p<0.001]). Antidepressant treatments showed a partial protective effect, reducing the increased risk by 14.7%. Conclusion An EP history is linked to an earlier onset and a higher risk of overall dementia, VaD in particular, in a dose dependent manner, regardless of surgical intervention and stroke. Post-ectopic depression exacerbates dementia risk, while antidepressants offer partial protection. These findings underscore the potential benefit of screening and treating depression in women following EPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Yi Yao
- Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Hsiang Chung
- Department of Medical Research, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
- Taiwanese Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Association, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wu-Chien Chien
- Department of Medical Research, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
- Taiwanese Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion Association, Taipei, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sung-Tao Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Siou-Ting Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Chung Huang
- Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chuan-Chi Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Psychiatry, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Nian-Sheng Tzeng
- Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
- Counseling Center, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
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Zhao M, Wang Y, Shen Y, Wei C, Zhang G, Sun L. A review of the roles of pathogens in Alzheimer's disease. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1439055. [PMID: 39224577 PMCID: PMC11366636 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1439055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the leading causes of dementia and is characterized by memory loss, mental and behavioral abnormalities, and impaired ability to perform daily activities. Even as a global disease that threatens human health, effective treatments to slow the progression of AD have not been found, despite intensive research and significant investment. In recent years, the role of infections in the etiology of AD has sparked intense debate. Pathogens invade the central nervous system through a damaged blood-brain barrier or nerve trunk and disrupt the neuronal structure and function as well as homeostasis of the brain microenvironment through a series of molecular biological events. In this review, we summarize the various pathogens involved in AD pathology, discuss potential interactions between pathogens and AD, and provide an overview of the promising future of anti-pathogenic therapies for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Li Sun
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Lee ST, Lee YL, Chung CH, Chien WC, Li ST, Yao CY, Tzeng NS. Cervical cancer and risk of dementia: real-world insights from a nationwide cohort study in Taiwan. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2024; 34:1156-1164. [PMID: 39043574 DOI: 10.1136/ijgc-2024-005408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Cervical cancer, linked to human papillomavirus (HPV), ranks fourth among women's cancers globally. Several studies have found an association between viral infections or cancer and dementia, which is a major public health concern. This study aimed to provide real-world data on the association between cervical cancer and the risk of dementia. METHODS This population-based cohort study, utilizing Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, included 53 905 patients, with 10 781 having cervical cancer, matching with 43 124 controls in a 1:4 ratio based on age and indexed date. Incidence density rates were used to calculate the incidence rate of dementia. Adjusting for comorbidities, a multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Additionally, the risk of dementia was further verified using the cumulative incidence analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS This study indicated a significantly higher dementia risk in the cervical cancer cohort compared with the non-cervical cancer cohort (adjusted HR (aHR)=1.64, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.26; p<0.001), suggesting a 1.64-fold increased risk. Notably, cervical cancer posed a greater risk of dementia (aHR=1.69, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.29; p<0.001) compared with carcinoma in situ of the cervix (p=0.18) and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (p=0.23). The cumulative incidence of dementia in the cervical cancer group was significantly higher (log-rank test, p<0.001) than the control group. CONCLUSIONS Cervical cancer (invasive disease) was associated with a significant risk of dementia, unlike carcinoma in situ of the cervix and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (pre-invasive diseases), suggesting HPV infections may play a role in dementia, particularly oncogenic types. This highlights the importance of further investigation into the underlying mechanisms of the association between cervical cancer and dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siou-Ting Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taoyuan Armed Forces General Hospital, Lungtan, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Liang Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Hsiang Chung
- Department of Medical Research, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Public Health and Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Wu-Chien Chien
- Department of Medical Research, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Public Health and Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Sung-Tao Li
- School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City, Taiwan
- Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Yi Yao
- School of Medicine, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City, Taiwan
- Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Nian-Sheng Tzeng
- Department of Psychiatry, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
- School of Medicine and Student Counseling Center, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City, Taiwan
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Wang Y, Tang Y, Liu TH, Shao L, Li C, Wang Y, Tan P. Integrative Multi-omics Analysis to Characterize Herpes Virus Infection Increases the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:5337-5352. [PMID: 38191694 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03903-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Evidence suggests that herpes virus infection is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and innate and adaptive immunity plays an important role in the association. Although there have been many studies, the mechanism of the association is still unclear. This study aims to reveal the underlying molecular and immune regulatory network through multi-omics data and provide support for the study of the mechanism of infection and AD in the future. Here, we found that the herpes virus infection significantly increased the risk of AD. Genes associated with the occurrence and development of AD and genetically regulated by herpes virus infection are mainly enrichment in immune-related pathways. The 22 key regulatory genes identified by machine learning are mainly immune genes. They are also significantly related to the infiltration changes of 3 immune cell in AD. Furthermore, many of these genes have previously been reported to be linked, or potentially linked, to the pathological mechanisms of both herpes virus infection and AD. In conclusion, this study contributes to the study of the mechanisms related to herpes virus infection and AD, and indicates that the regulation of innate and adaptive immunity may be an effective strategy for preventing and treating herpes virus infection and AD. Additionally, the identified key regulatory genes, whether previously studied or newly discovered, may serve as valuable targets for prevention and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongheng Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproductive and Development, Department of Reproductive Biology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yaqin Tang
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tai-Hang Liu
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproductive and Development, Department of Reproductive Biology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lizhen Shao
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chunying Li
- Chongqing Vocational College of Resources and Environmental Protection, Chongqing, China.
| | - Yingxiong Wang
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproductive and Development, Department of Reproductive Biology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Pengcheng Tan
- Department of Bioinformatics, School of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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Cuddy SR, Flores ME, Krakowiak PA, Whitford AL, Dochnal SA, Babnis A, Miyake T, Tigano M, Engel DA, Cliffe AR. Co-option of mitochondrial nucleic acid sensing pathways by HSV-1 UL12.5 for reactivation from latent Infection. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.06.601241. [PMID: 39005440 PMCID: PMC11245091 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.06.601241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Although viruses subvert innate immune pathways for their replication, there is evidence they can also co-opt anti-viral responses for their benefit. The ubiquitous human pathogen, Herpes Simplex Virus-1 (HSV-1), encodes a protein (UL12.5) that induces the release of mitochondrial nucleic acid into the cytosol, which activates immune sensing pathways and reduces productive replication in non-neuronal cells. HSV-1 establishes latency in neurons and can reactivate to cause disease. We found that UL12.5 is required for HSV-1 reactivation in neurons and acts to directly promote viral lytic gene expression during initial exit from latency. Further, the direct activation of innate immune sensing pathways triggered HSV reactivation and compensated for a lack of UL12.5. Finally, we found that the induction of HSV-1 lytic genes during reactivation required intact RNA and DNA sensing pathways, demonstrating that HSV-1 can both respond to and active antiviral nucleic acid sensing pathways to reactivate from a latent infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean R. Cuddy
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908
| | - Matthew E. Flores
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908
| | - Patryk A. Krakowiak
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908
| | - Abigail L. Whitford
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908
| | - Sara A. Dochnal
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908
| | - Aleksandra Babnis
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908
| | - Tsuyoshi Miyake
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908
| | - Marco Tigano
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia 19107
| | - Daniel A. Engel
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908
| | - Anna. R Cliffe
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908
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Ukraintseva S, Yashkin AP, Akushevich I, Arbeev K, Duan H, Gorbunova G, Stallard E, Yashin A. Associations of infections and vaccines with Alzheimer's disease point to a role of compromised immunity rather than specific pathogen in AD. Exp Gerontol 2024; 190:112411. [PMID: 38548241 PMCID: PMC11060001 DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2024.112411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Diverse pathogens (viral, bacterial, fungal) have been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related traits in various studies. This suggests that compromised immunity, rather than specific microbes, may play a role in AD by increasing an individual's vulnerability to various infections, which could contribute to neurodegeneration. If true, then vaccines that have heterologous effects on immunity, extending beyond protection against the targeted disease, may hold a potential for AD prevention. METHODS We evaluated the associations of common adult infections (herpes simplex, zoster (shingles), pneumonia, and recurrent mycoses), and vaccinations against shingles and pneumonia, with the risks of AD and other dementias in a pseudorandomized sample of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS). RESULTS Shingles, pneumonia and mycoses, diagnosed between ages 65 and 75, were all associated with significantly increased risk of AD later in life, by 16 %-42 %. Pneumococcal and shingles vaccines administered between ages 65-75 were both associated with a significantly lower risk of AD, by 15 %-21 %. These effects became less pronounced when AD was combined with other dementias. DISCUSSION Our findings suggest that both the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine and the live attenuated zoster vaccine can offer significant protection against AD. It remains to be determined if non-live shingles vaccine has a similar beneficial effect on AD. This study also found significant associations of various infections with the risk of AD, but not with the risks of other dementias. This indicates that vulnerability to infections may play a more significant role in AD than in other types of dementia, which warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Ukraintseva
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Arseniy P Yashkin
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Igor Akushevich
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Konstantin Arbeev
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Hongzhe Duan
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Galina Gorbunova
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Eric Stallard
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Anatoliy Yashin
- Biodemography of Aging Research Unit, Social Science Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
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Zhao M, Ma G, Yan X, Li X, Wang E, Xu XX, Zhao JB, Ma X, Zeng J. Microbial infection promotes amyloid pathology in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease via modulating γ-secretase. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:1491-1500. [PMID: 38273109 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02428-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Microbial infection as a type of environmental risk factors is considered to be associated with long-term increased risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is characterized by two neuropathologically molecular hallmarks of hyperphosphorylated tau and amyloid-β (Aβ), the latter generated by several biochemically reactive enzymes, including γ-secretase. However, how infectious risk factors contribute to pathological development of the AD core molecules remains to be addressed. In this work, we utilized a modified herpes simplex virus type 1 (mHSV-1) and found that its hippocampal infection locally promotes Aβ pathology in 5 × FAD mice, the commonly used amyloid model. Mechanistically, we identified HSV-1 membrane glycoprotein US7 (Envelope gI) that interacts with and modulates γ-secretase and consequently facilitates Aβ production. Furthermore, we presented evidence that adenovirus-associated virus-mediated locally hippocampal overexpression of the US7 aggravates Aβ pathology in 5 × FAD mice. Collectively, these findings identify a herpesviral factor regulating γ-secretase in the development and progression of AD and represent a causal molecular link between infectious pathogens and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhao
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201600, China
- Department of Neurology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Guanqin Ma
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiaoxu Yan
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201600, China
- Department of Neurology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xiaohong Li
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Erlin Wang
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201600, China
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiang-Xiong Xu
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
| | - Jie-Bin Zhao
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China
| | - Xueling Ma
- Department of Neurology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang, China.
| | - Jianxiong Zeng
- Songjiang Research Institute, Songjiang Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201600, China.
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China.
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650204, Yunnan, China.
- Yunnan Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Information, Kunming, 650201, Yunnan, China.
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Williams ZAP, Lang L, Nicolas S, Clarke G, Cryan J, Vauzour D, Nolan YM. Do microbes play a role in Alzheimer's disease? Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14462. [PMID: 38593310 PMCID: PMC11003713 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a complex and progressive condition that affects essential neurological functions such as memory and reasoning. In the brain, neuronal loss, synaptic dysfunction, proteinopathy, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuroinflammation are the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease pathophysiology. In addition, recent evidence has highlighted that microbes, whether commensal or pathogenic, also have the ability to interact with their host and to regulate its immune system, therefore participating in the exchanges that lead to peripheral inflammation and neuropathology. Because of this intimate relationship, bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa have been implicated in the development of Alzheimer's disease. Here, we bring together current and most recent evidence of the role of microbes in Alzheimer's disease, raising burning questions that need to be addressed to guide therapeutic approaches and potential prophylactic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoë A. P. Williams
- Department of Anatomy and NeuroscienceUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
- APC Microbiome IrelandUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
| | - Leonie Lang
- Norwich Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwichUK
| | - Sarah Nicolas
- Department of Anatomy and NeuroscienceUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
- APC Microbiome IrelandUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
| | - Gerard Clarke
- APC Microbiome IrelandUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioural ScienceUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
| | - John Cryan
- Department of Anatomy and NeuroscienceUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
- APC Microbiome IrelandUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
| | - David Vauzour
- Norwich Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwichUK
| | - Yvonne M. Nolan
- Department of Anatomy and NeuroscienceUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
- APC Microbiome IrelandUniversity College CorkCorkIreland
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Høilund-Carlsen PF, Alavi A, Castellani RJ, Neve RL, Perry G, Revheim ME, Barrio JR. Alzheimer's Amyloid Hypothesis and Antibody Therapy: Melting Glaciers? Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3892. [PMID: 38612701 PMCID: PMC11012162 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The amyloid cascade hypothesis for Alzheimer's disease is still alive, although heavily challenged. Effective anti-amyloid immunotherapy would confirm the hypothesis' claim that the protein amyloid-beta is the cause of the disease. Two antibodies, aducanumab and lecanemab, have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, while a third, donanemab, is under review. The main argument for the FDA approvals is a presumed therapy-induced removal of cerebral amyloid deposits. Lecanemab and donanemab are also thought to cause some statistical delay in the determination of cognitive decline. However, clinical efficacy that is less than with conventional treatment, selection of amyloid-positive trial patients with non-specific amyloid-PET imaging, and uncertain therapy-induced removal of cerebral amyloids in clinical trials cast doubt on this anti-Alzheimer's antibody therapy and hence on the amyloid hypothesis, calling for a more thorough investigation of the negative impact of this type of therapy on the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poul F. Høilund-Carlsen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Odense University Hospital, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
- Research Unit of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Abass Alavi
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Rudolph J. Castellani
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA;
| | - Rachael L. Neve
- Gene Delivery Technology Core, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA;
| | - George Perry
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology and Genetics of Neurodegeneration, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA;
| | - Mona-Elisabeth Revheim
- The Intervention Centre, Division of Technology and Innovation, Oslo University Hospital, 0372 Oslo, Norway;
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, 0313 Oslo, Norway
| | - Jorge R. Barrio
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, LA 90095, USA
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Shin E, Chi SA, Chung TY, Kim HJ, Kim K, Lim DH. The associations of herpes simplex virus and varicella zoster virus infection with dementia: a nationwide retrospective cohort study. Alzheimers Res Ther 2024; 16:57. [PMID: 38475873 PMCID: PMC10935826 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-024-01418-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In this study, the risk of dementia in patients with a history of herpes simplex virus (HSV) or varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection was evaluated. METHODS This nationwide cohort study used data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service collected between 2006 and 2017. A total of 752,205 subjects ≥ 45 years of age not diagnosed with dementia until 2006 were included. A multivariate Cox regression model, adjusted for age, sex, and other comorbidities, was used to assess the hazard ratio (HR) for dementia based on VZV or HSV infection. The interaction effects of both viral infections were analysed. Viral infections are classified into four categories: eye, central nervous system (CNS), simple, and complicated. The hazard ratio (HR) of viral infection was analysed based on the type of dementia. RESULTS In multivariable analysis, both HSV and VZV infection were associated with an increased risk of dementia (HR = 1.38, 95% confidence interval, CI:1.33-1.43) and (HR = 1.41, 95% CI:1.37-1.46), respectively. Patients who experienced both HSV and VZV infections were also at an increased risk of dementia (HR = 1.57, 95% CI:1.50-1.63). The co-infection group showed the shortest time from viral infection to dementia diagnosis (4.09 ± 3.02 years). In the subgroup analysis, all types of HSV and VZV infections were associated with an increased risk of dementia compared to the non-infection group. The eye, CNS, and complicated VZV infections were associated with a significantly higher risk than simple VZV infections. There were no significant differences between the subtypes of HSV infection. Furthermore, HSV, VSV, and co-infection were associated with an increased risk of all dementia types, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VD). CONCLUSIONS Individual HSV and VZV infections were associated with an increased risk of all types of dementia, including AD and VD. Patients co-infected with HSV and VZV, VZV infection in the eye, CNS, or complicated type were more vulnerable to the development of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunhae Shin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sang Ah Chi
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences & Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea
- Biomedical Statistics Center, Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Tae-Young Chung
- Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hee Jin Kim
- Department of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
- Neuroscience Center, Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Samsung Alzheimer Research Center, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kyunga Kim
- Biomedical Statistics Center, Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
- Department of Digital Health, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences & Technology, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dong Hui Lim
- Department of Ophthalmology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
- Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Science & Technology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
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Ahmad F, Karan A, Sharma R, Sharma NS, Sundar V, Jayaraj R, Mukherjee S, DeCoster MA. Evolving therapeutic interventions for the management and treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 95:102229. [PMID: 38364913 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) patients experience diverse symptoms, including memory loss, cognitive impairment, behavioral abnormalities, mood changes, and mental issues. The fundamental objective of this review is to discuss novel therapeutic approaches, with special emphasis on recently approved marketed formulations for the treatment of AD, especially Aducanumab, the first FDA approved moiety that surpasses the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and reduces amyloid plaques in the brain, thereby reducing associated cognitive decline. However, it is still in the phase IV trial and is to be completed by 2030. Other drugs such as lecanemab are also under clinical trial and has recently been approved by the FDA and is also discussed here. In this review, we also focus on active and passive immunotherapy for AD as well as several vaccines, such as amyloid-beta epitope-based vaccines, amyloid-beta DNA vaccines, and stem cell therapy for AD, which are in clinical trials. Furthermore, ongoing pre-clinical trials associated with AD and other novel strategies such as curcumin-loaded nanoparticles, Crispr/ cas9, precision medicine, as well as some emerging therapies like anti-sense therapy are also highlighted. Additionally, we discuss some off-labeled drugs like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), anti-diabetic drugs, and lithium, which can manage symptoms of AD and different non-pharmacological approaches are also covered which can help to manage AD. In summary, we have tried to cover all the therapeutic interventions which are available for the treatment and management of AD under sections approved, clinical phase, pre-clinical phase or futuristic interventions, off-labelled drugs, and non-pharmacological interventions for AD, offering positive findings and well as challenges that remain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faizan Ahmad
- Department of Medical Elementology and Toxicology, Jamia Hamdard University, Delhi, India
| | - Anik Karan
- Department of Mechanical and Bioengineering, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA.
| | - Rashi Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology, Delhi Technological University, Bawana, Delhi, India
| | - Navatha Shree Sharma
- Department of Surgery Transplant, University of Nebraska Medical Centre, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Vaishnavi Sundar
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Centre, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Richard Jayaraj
- Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, UAE
| | - Sudip Mukherjee
- Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology- Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Mark A DeCoster
- Cellular Neuroscience Laboratory, Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Science, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA, USA; Cellular Neuroscience Laboratory, Institute for Micromanufacturing, College of Engineering and Science, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA, USA.
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37
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Thapa S, Shah S, Bhattarai A, Yazdan Panah M, Chand S, Mirmosayyeb O. Risk of dementia following herpes zoster infection among patients undertreatment versus those not: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Health Sci Rep 2024; 7:e1941. [PMID: 38482136 PMCID: PMC10935877 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 11/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims According to the previous studies, herpes zoster (HZ) has been associated with cognitive function and dementia. There is a hypothesis claiming that dementia risk may be reduced by receiving the antiviral treatment for HZ. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to shed light on the association between dementia and HZ in individuals receiving and not receiving antiviral medications. Methods Studies investigating the association between HZ and dementia were identified through a systematic search in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library databases from January, 2000 to April, 2022. Data on the risk of dementia in HZ-infected patients under and not under antiviral treatment were extracted. The meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model. The modified ROBIN-I tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias assessment. By utilizing the funnel plots, publication bias was investigated. Results Six cohort studies on 538,531 patients were included. The overall risk of bias assessment was moderate. According to evidence-based cohort studies, there was a significant direct association between HZ and risk of dementia in patients with HZ, who did not receive antiviral treatments (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03 to 1.28, p = 0.01). On the other hand, there was an inverse relationship between HZ and risk of dementia among patients with HZ, who received antiviral treatments (HR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.59 to 0.77, p < 0.001). Conclusions This study demonstrated that antiviral therapies may significantly lower the risk of dementia in patients with HZ. This study also confirmed that patients with HZ, without receiving antiviral therapies, may have an increased risk of developing dementia. Further longitudinal research is warranted in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sangam Shah
- Tribhuvan UniversityInstitute of MedicineMaharjgunjNepal
| | | | | | - Swati Chand
- Westchester Medical CenterNew York Medical CollegeValhallaNYUSA
| | - Omid Mirmosayyeb
- Isfahan Neurosciences Research CenterIsfahan University of Medical SciencesIsfahanIran
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Seo DO, Holtzman DM. Current understanding of the Alzheimer's disease-associated microbiome and therapeutic strategies. Exp Mol Med 2024; 56:86-94. [PMID: 38172602 PMCID: PMC10834451 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-01146-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a fatal progressive neurodegenerative disease. Despite tremendous research efforts to understand this complex disease, the exact pathophysiology of the disease is not completely clear. Recently, anti-Aβ antibodies have been shown to remove amyloid from the brain and slow the clinical progression of mild dementia by ~30%. However, exploring alternative strategies is crucial to understanding and developing more effective therapeutic interventions. In recent years, the microbiota-gut-brain axis has received significant attention in the AD field. Numerous studies have suggested that alterations in the gut microbiota composition are associated with the progression of AD, and several underlying mechanisms have been proposed. However, studies in this area are still in their infancy, and many aspects of this field are just beginning to be explored and understood. Gaining a deeper understanding of the intricate interactions and signaling pathways involved in the microbiota-AD interaction is crucial for optimizing therapeutic strategies targeting gut microbiota to positively impact AD. In this review, we aim to summarize the current understanding of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in AD. We will discuss the existing evidence regarding the role of gut microbiota in AD pathogenesis, suggested underlying mechanisms, biological factors influencing the microbiome-gut-brain axis in AD, and remaining questions in the field. Last, we will discuss potential therapeutic approaches to recondition the community of gut microbiota to alleviate disease progression. An ongoing exploration of the gut-brain axis and the development of microbiota-based therapies hold the potential for advancing AD management in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Oh Seo
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
| | - David M Holtzman
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Knight Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
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Li Z, Wang H, Yin Y. Peripheral inflammation is a potential etiological factor in Alzheimer's disease. Rev Neurosci 2024; 35:99-120. [PMID: 37602685 DOI: 10.1515/revneuro-2023-0049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Peripheral inflammation could constitute a risk factor for AD. This review summarizes the research related to peripheral inflammation that appears to have a relationship with Alzheimer's disease. We find there are significant associations between AD and peripheral infection induced by various pathogens, including herpes simplex virus type 1, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, human immunodeficiency virus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Helicobacter pylori, and Toxoplasma gondii. Chronic inflammatory diseases are also reported to contribute to the pathophysiology of AD. The mechanisms by which peripheral inflammation affects the pathophysiology of AD are complex. Pathogen-derived neurotoxic molecule composition, disrupted BBB, and dysfunctional neurogenesis may all play a role in peripheral inflammation, promoting the development of AD. Anti-pathogenic medications and anti-inflammatory treatments are reported to decrease the risk of AD. Studies that could improve understanding the associations between AD and peripheral inflammation are needed. If our assumption is correct, early intervention against inflammation may be a potential method of preventing and treating AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyuan Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Kongjiang Road 1665, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Kongjiang Road 1665, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yafu Yin
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Kongjiang Road 1665, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200092, China
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Weinmann S, Rawlings A, Koppolu P, Rosales AG, Prado YK, Schmidt MA. Herpes zoster diagnosis and treatment in relation to incident dementia: A population-based retrospective matched cohort study. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0296957. [PMID: 38271405 PMCID: PMC10810473 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0296957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence suggests that some infectious diseases, such as herpes zoster (HZ), are associated with elevated risk of subsequent dementia, while certain anti-viral medications are associated with lower risk. We sought to evaluate associations between HZ diagnosis and treatment with incident dementia in a large, retrospective matched cohort. METHODS Using ICD-9 and ICD-10 diagnosis codes in electronic medical records, we identified members of Kaiser Permanente Northwest age 50 and older from 2000-2019 with a HZ diagnosis during this period. A comparison group without HZ diagnosis was individually matched 3:1 on age at HZ diagnosis date (index date), sex, and membership length prior to index date. We excluded subjects with dementia diagnosed before the index date. Antiherpetic medication was identified using pharmacy fills 1 month before to 12 months after the index date. We employed survival analysis to examine the associations between dementia and HZ diagnosis and antiherpetic medication, adjusting multivariable models for demographic and clinical factors. We stratified on age and sex and conducted a sensitivity analysis with a 5-year lag period. RESULT The study included 101,328 persons, 25,332 with HZ. Over a median follow-up of 4.8 years, 6,000 developed dementia. HZ diagnosis was not associated with higher hazard of dementia (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.99, 95% CI 0.93-1.05) in the primary analysis. Among persons with HZ diagnoses, the HR for receipt of any antiherpetic medication was 0.79 (95% CI 0.70-0.90) in univariate analysis and 0.88 (95% CI 0.77-1.00) after adjustment for demographic and clinical factors. Dementia was not associated with trends in duration of medication use or cumulative dose. CONCLUSIONS We found little evidence for an association between HZ diagnosis and dementia overall. Antiherpetic medication prescribed around the time of HZ diagnosis was statistically associated with lower risk of subsequent dementia in some but not all analyses and subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila Weinmann
- Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Andreea Rawlings
- Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Padma Koppolu
- Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - A. Gabriela Rosales
- Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Yolanda K. Prado
- Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
| | - Mark A. Schmidt
- Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Portland, Oregon, United States of America
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Balasubramaniam M, Ganne A, Mainali N, Pahal S, Ayyadevara S, Shmookler Reis RJ. Alzheimer's-specific brain amyloid interactome: Neural-network analysis of intra-aggregate crosslinking identifies novel drug targets. iScience 2024; 27:108745. [PMID: 38274404 PMCID: PMC10809092 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by peri-neuronal amyloid plaque and intra-neuronal neurofibrillary tangles. These aggregates are identified by the immunodetection of "seed" proteins (Aβ1-42 and hyperphosphorylated tau, respectively), but include many other proteins incorporated nonrandomly. Using click-chemistry intra-aggregate crosslinking, we previously modeled amyloid "contactomes" in SY5Y-APPSw neuroblastoma cells, revealing that aspirin impedes aggregate growth and complexity. By an analogous strategy, we now construct amyloid-specific aggregate interactomes of AD and age-matched-control hippocampi. Comparing these interactomes reveals AD-specific interactions, from which neural-network (NN) analyses predict proteins with the highest impact on pathogenic aggregate formation and/or stability. RNAi knockdowns of implicated proteins, in C. elegans and human-cell-culture models of AD, validated those predictions. Gene-Ontology meta-analysis of AD-enriched influential proteins highlighted the involvement of mitochondrial and cytoplasmic compartments in AD-specific aggregation. This approach derives dynamic consensus models of aggregate growth and architecture, implicating highly influential proteins as new targets to disrupt amyloid accrual in the AD brain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Akshatha Ganne
- Department of Geriatrics, Reynolds Institute on Aging, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Nirjal Mainali
- Bioinformatics Program, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Sonu Pahal
- Bioinformatics Program, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Srinivas Ayyadevara
- Department of Geriatrics, Reynolds Institute on Aging, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
- McClellan Veterans Medical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare Service, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
| | - Robert J. Shmookler Reis
- Department of Geriatrics, Reynolds Institute on Aging, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
- McClellan Veterans Medical Center, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare Service, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
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De Francesco MA. Herpesviridae, Neurodegenerative Disorders and Autoimmune Diseases: What Is the Relationship between Them? Viruses 2024; 16:133. [PMID: 38257833 PMCID: PMC10818483 DOI: 10.3390/v16010133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease represent the most common forms of cognitive impairment. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system responsible for severe disability. An aberrant immune response is the cause of myelin destruction that covers axons in the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease characterized by alteration of B cell activation, while Sjögren's syndrome is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease characterized by altered immune responses. The etiology of all these diseases is very complex, including an interrelationship between genetic factors, principally immune associated genes, and environmental factors such as infectious agents. However, neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases share proinflammatory signatures and a perturbation of adaptive immunity that might be influenced by herpesviruses. Therefore, they might play a critical role in the disease pathogenesis. The aim of this review was to summarize the principal findings that link herpesviruses to both neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases; moreover, briefly underlining the potential therapeutic approach of virus vaccination and antivirals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Antonia De Francesco
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Institute of Microbiology, University of Brescia-ASST Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
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Awogbindin I, Wanklin M, Verkhratsky A, Tremblay MÈ. Microglia in Neurodegenerative Diseases. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 37:497-512. [PMID: 39207709 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-55529-9_27] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are manifested by a progressive death of neural cells, resulting in the deterioration of central nervous system (CNS) functions, ultimately leading to specific behavioural and cognitive symptoms associated with affected brain regions. Several neurodegenerative disorders are caused by genetic variants or mutations, although the majority of cases are sporadic and linked to various environmental risk factors, with yet an unknown aetiology. Neuroglial changes are fundamental and often lead to the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, microglial cells, which are essential for maintaining CNS health, become compromised in their physiological functions with the exposure to environmental risk factors, genetic variants or mutations, as well as disease pathology. In this chapter, we cover the contribution of neuroglia, especially microglia, to several neurodegenerative diseases, including Nasu-Hakola disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, infectious disease-associated neurodegeneration, and metal-precipitated neurodegeneration. Future research perspectives for the field pertaining to the therapeutic targeting of microglia across these disease conditions are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ifeoluwa Awogbindin
- Department of Biochemistry, Neuroimmunology Group, Molecular Drug Metabolism and Toxicology Laboratory, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
- Division of Medical Sciences, Medical Sciences Building, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
- Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Michael Wanklin
- Division of Medical Sciences, Medical Sciences Building, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
| | - Alexei Verkhratsky
- Faculty of Life Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
- Department of Neurosciences, University of the Basque Country, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain.
- Department of Stem Cell Biology, State Research Institute Centre for Innovative Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania.
- Department of Forensic Analytical Toxicology, School of Forensic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, Medical Sciences Building, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
- Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
- Axe neurosciences, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec City, QC, Canada.
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Pavillon Ferdinand-Vandry, Québec City, QC, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Life Sciences Center, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Lapeyre L, Piret J, Rhéaume C, Pons V, Uyar O, Préfontaine P, Rivest S, Boivin G. Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Infection Does Not Increase Amyloid-β Pathology in APP/PS1 Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 97:171-178. [PMID: 38143354 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Using APP/PS1 mice that overproduce amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides, we investigated whether intranasal infection with a neurovirulent clinical strain of herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) before Aβ deposition could accelerate or increase Alzheimer's disease-like pathology. After HSV-1 infection, APP/PS1 mice presented a similar disease as wild type animals based on body weight changes, clinical symptoms, and survival rates. The number and volume of Aβ plaques, the number of microglia, and the percentages of circulating monocyte subsets were similar in APP/PS1 mice infected or not with HSV-1. Thus, intranasal infection with HSV-1 does not alter Aβ pathology in this mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lina Lapeyre
- Research Center in infectious diseases, Research center of the CHU de Québec-Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Jocelyne Piret
- Research Center in infectious diseases, Research center of the CHU de Québec-Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Chantal Rhéaume
- Research Center in infectious diseases, Research center of the CHU de Québec-Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Vincent Pons
- Neuroscience laboratory, Research center of the CHU de Québec-Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Olus Uyar
- Research Center in infectious diseases, Research center of the CHU de Québec-Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Paul Préfontaine
- Neuroscience laboratory, Research center of the CHU de Québec-Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Serge Rivest
- Neuroscience laboratory, Research center of the CHU de Québec-Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Guy Boivin
- Research Center in infectious diseases, Research center of the CHU de Québec-Laval University, Quebec City, QC, Canada
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Gurjar P, Khan AA, Alanazi AM, Vasil'ev VG, Zouganelis G, Alexiou A. Molecular Dissection of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 to Elucidate Molecular Mechanisms Behind Latency and Comparison of Its Codon Usage Patterns with Genes Modulated During Alzheimer's Disease as a Part of Host-Pathogen Interaction. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 97:1111-1123. [PMID: 38306057 DOI: 10.3233/jad-231083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is associated with Alzheimer's disease, which goes into a cycle of latency and reactivation. The present study was envisaged to understand the reasons for latency and specific molecular patterns present in the HSV-1. OBJECTIVE The objective is the molecular dissection of Herpes simplex virus type 1 to elucidate molecular mechanisms behind latency and compare its codon usage patterns with genes modulated during Alzheimer's disease as a part of host-pathogen interaction. METHODS In the present study, we tried to investigate the potential reasons for the latency of HSV-1 virus bioinformatically by determining the CpG patterns. Also, we investigated the codon usage pattern, the presence of rare codons, codon context, and protein properties. RESULTS The top 222 codon pairs graded based on their frequency in the HSV-1 genome revealed that with only one exception (CUG-UUU), all other codon pairs have codons ending with G/C. Considering it an extension of host-pathogen interaction, we compared HSV-1 codon usage with that of codon usage of genes modulated during Alzheimer's disease, and we found that CGT and TTT are only two codons that exhibited similar codon usage patterns and other codons showed statistically highly significant different codon preferences. Dinucleotide CpG tends to mutate to TpG, suggesting the presence of mutational forces and the imperative role of CpG methylation in HSV-1 latency. CONCLUSIONS Upon comparison of codon usage between HSV-1 and Alzheimer's disease genes, no similarities in codon usage were found as a part of host-pathogen interaction. CpG methylation plays an imperative role in latency HSV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pankaj Gurjar
- Centre for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
- Department of Science and Engineering, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, Australia
| | - Azmat Ali Khan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Laboratory, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amer M Alanazi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Laboratory, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - George Zouganelis
- School of Human Sciences, College of Life and Natural Sciences, University of Derby, Derby, UK
| | - Athanasios Alexiou
- Department of Science and Engineering, Novel Global Community Educational Foundation, Hebersham, Australia
- AFNP Med, Vienna, Austria
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Untersteiner H, Wurm R, Reichardt B, Goeschl S, Berger-Sieczkowski E, König T, Parvizi T, Silvaieh S, Stögmann E. Heightened Prevalence of Common Hospital-Treated Infections Preceding Dementia Diagnosis with Accelerated Dementia Onset after Influenza. J Prev Alzheimers Dis 2024; 11:1445-1454. [PMID: 39350392 PMCID: PMC11436395 DOI: 10.14283/jpad.2024.92] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Since the beginning of Alzheimer's disease research, the hypothesis that infections are to some extent associated with neurodegenerative processes has been tested repeatedly. Epidemiological studies on the associations between infections and dementia have reported conflicting results. OBJECTIVES This study analyses common hospital-treated infections (herpes, influenza, intestinal infections, pneumonia, sepsis, urinary tract infections) and their association with subsequent dementia and time until dementia onset. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS For this nationwide population-based case-control study, the dataset of the Austrian National Health Insurance Association was used, including dementia patients (dementia cohort) and age- and gender-matched non-demented individuals (control cohort). Only subjects with data availability of at least 10 years prior to the index date (date of dementia diagnosis or date of censoring) were included. MEASUREMENTS The incidence of six common infections in older adults (herpes, influenza, intestinal infections, pneumonia, sepsis, and urinary tract infections) was analyzed over a period of 10 years before the censoring date. RESULTS The study population consists of 58208 subjects (29104 per study cohort), mean age: 81 years, 54% females. Patients of the dementia cohort had suffered from infections significantly more often than patients of the control cohort (6002, 20.6% vs. 4826, 16.6%; p < 0.001). Influenza, urinary tract infections, intestinal infections, and sepsis showed independent positive associations with subsequent dementia diagnosis, irrespective of other comorbidities (odds ratios: 1.26 (95% CI: 1.06-1.49), 1.23 (95% CI: 1.16-1.30), 1.16 (95% CI: 1.07-1.27), 1.17 (95% CI: 1.01-1.37), respectively). Time from infection to dementia diagnosis was shorter after influenza compared to all other infections (median: 3.4 years (95% CI: 3.1-3.7) vs. 6.6 years (95% CI: 6.4-6.8); p < 0.001). CONCLUSION This is the first study to assess the association between infections and dementia over such a long minimum reporting period. These results, supported by consistent data from other epidemiological studies, emphasize the critical importance of infection prevention measures, especially for older adults. Further research is crucial to better understand the nature of the relationship between infections and dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Untersteiner
- Elisabeth Stögmann, MD, Associate Professor of Neurology, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090 Vienna, Austria, Tel.: 0043-1-40400-63860, E-mail:
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Fu J, Wei Q, Chen X, Lai X, Shang H. Analysis of the Association Between Pathogen Exposure and the Risk of Dementia. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 100:961-972. [PMID: 38995782 DOI: 10.3233/jad-240073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Background Previous research has suggested that pathogen infections may serve as potential contributors to dementia. Objective Consequently, the study aimed to evaluate whether pathogen exposure heightens the risk of dementia. Methods Between 2006 and 2010, a total of 8,144 individuals from the UK Biobank had data on pathogen antibodies and were included in the baseline assessment. Cox proportional hazard models were employed for the analysis. Results Out of the 8,144 participants, 107 eventually developed dementia, while 55 participants were diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the levels of pathogen antibody titers of EBV and C. trachomatis were associated with an increased risk of dementia/AD. The highest quartile of EBV EBNA-1 and EBV VCA p18, and the second quartile of H. pylori VacA significantly increased the risk of dementia compared lower quartile (EBV EBNA-1: HR = 1.938, p = 0.018; EBV VCA p18: HR = 1.824, p = 0.040; H. pylori VacA: HR = 1.890, p = 0.033). Besides, the highest quartile of EBV VCA p18 had a higher risk of AD compared lower quartile (HR = 2.755, p = 0.029). Conclusions The study demonstrated that exposure to EBV, H. pylori, and C. trachomatis substantially elevated the risk of dementia/AD. Despite the relatively widespread occurrence of EBV infection in the population, elevated pathogen antibody titers were still found to increase the risk of dementia/AD. Besides, since C. trachomatis and C. pneumoniae are quite homologous, this study found that trachomatis (C. trachomatis/C. pneumoniae) may be significantly associated with the risk of AD/dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Fu
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Rare Disease Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qianqian Wei
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Rare Disease Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xueping Chen
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Rare Disease Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaohui Lai
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Huifang Shang
- Department of Neurology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Rare Disease Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Gao J, Feng L, Wu B, Xia W, Xie P, Ma S, Liu H, Meng M, Sun Y. The association between varicella zoster virus and dementia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Neurol Sci 2024; 45:27-36. [PMID: 37639023 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-023-07038-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The relationship between varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection and the risk of dementia has not been previously studied specifically. Therefore, this study sought to determine the relationship between studying VZV infection and dementia occurring in the general population by conducting an extensive meta-analysis of published cases. METHOD A systematic literature search was conducted in seven online databases by October 31, 2022. Heterogeneity was tested by the I2 index. Pooled HR and 95% CI were used to estimate the effect of VZV infection on dementia. Sensitivity analyses and publication bias were also performed. RESULT Nine studies involving 3,326,673 subjects were included. VZV infection was associated with an increased risk of dementia (HR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02-1.21). The risk of dementia was reduced in those who received antiviral therapy compared to those who did not (HR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.71-0.99). In addition, VZV infection was found to be associated with an increased risk of developing dementia in the pooled results of the moderate quality study (HR = 1.81,95% CI: 1.27-2.59), and this association persisted when subgroup analyses were performed based on region (Asia: HR = 1.18,95% CI: 1.04-1.33). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that VZV infection might increase the risk of developing dementia, but there is no clear mechanism about the true relationship, and since there is no effective treatment for dementia, and our results suggest that some populations can benefit from antiviral therapy, it is at least arguable that patients who develop VZV infection should be treated with appropriate antiviral medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Gao
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public, Health Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Linya Feng
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public, Health Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Birong Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public, Health Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Weihang Xia
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public, Health Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Xie
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public, Health Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Shaodi Ma
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public, Health Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Haixia Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public, Health Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, People's Republic of China
| | - Muzi Meng
- UK Program Site, American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Vernon Building Room 64, Sizer St, Preston, PR1 1JQ, UK
- Bronxcare Health System, 1650 Grand Concourse, The Bronx, NY, 10457, USA
| | - Yehuan Sun
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public, Health Anhui Medical University, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
- Chaohu Hospital, Anhui Medical University, No. 64 Chaohubei Road, Hefei, 238000, Anhui, China.
- Center for Evidence-Based Practice, Anhui Medical University, Anhui, People's Republic of China.
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Tan S, Kelty E, Page A, Etherton-Beer C, Sanfilippo F, Almeida OP. Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Associations Between Treatment for Herpes Virus Infection and the Dispensing of Antidementia Medicines: An Analysis of the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme Database. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 100:791-797. [PMID: 38905050 DOI: 10.3233/jad-240391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Background Evidence from previous observational studies suggest that infection by herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) increase the risk of dementia. Objective To investigate if older adults exposed to HSV treatment have lower risk of dementia than the rest of the population. Methods We used the 10% Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) database from 2013 to 2022 to ascertain the cross-sectional, time-series and longitudinal association between exposure to HSV treatment and the dispensing of antidementia medicines. Participants were men and women aged 60 years or older. We used Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) codes to identify medicines dispensed for the treatment of HSV and dementia. Results During the year 2022 6,868 (1.2%) of 559,561 of participants aged 60 years or over were dispensed antidementia agent. The odds ratio (OR) of being dispensed an antidementia agent among individuals dispensed treatment for HSV was 0.73 (99% CI = 0.56-0.95). Multilevel logistic regression for the 2013-2022 period for those dispensed HSV treatment was 0.87 (99% CI = 0.75-1.00). Split-time span series from 2013 was associated with hazard ratio of 0.98 (99% CI = 0.89-1.07) for individuals dispensed relative to those not dispensed HSV treatment. All analyses were adjusted for age, sex, and the dispensing of medicines for the treatment of diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and ischemic heart disease. Conclusions The dispensing of antiviral medicines for the treatment of HSV and VZV is consistently, but not conclusively, associated with decreased dispensing of antidementia medicines. This suggests that treatment of HSV and VZV infections may contribute to reduce the risk of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Tan
- School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Australia
| | - Erin Kelty
- School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Amy Page
- School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- School of Allied Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | | | - Frank Sanfilippo
- School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - Osvaldo P Almeida
- Medical School, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
- Institute for Health Research, University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, Australia
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Stone J, Mitrofanis J, Johnstone DM, Robinson SR. The Catastrophe of Intracerebral Hemorrhage Drives the Capillary-Hemorrhage Dementias, Including Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2024; 97:1069-1081. [PMID: 38217606 DOI: 10.3233/jad-231202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
This review advances an understanding of several dementias, based on four premises. One is that capillary hemorrhage is prominent in the pathogenesis of the dementias considered (dementia pugilistica, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, traumatic brain damage, Alzheimer's disease). The second premise is that hemorrhage introduces four neurotoxic factors into brain tissue: hypoxia of the tissue that has lost its blood supply, hemoglobin and its breakdown products, excitotoxic levels of glutamate, and opportunistic pathogens that can infect brain cells and induce a cytotoxic immune response. The third premise is that where organisms evolve molecules that are toxic to itself, like the neurotoxicity ascribed to hemoglobin, amyloid- (A), and glutamate, there must be some role for the molecule that gives the organism a selection advantage. The fourth is the known survival-advantage roles of hemoglobin (oxygen transport), of A (neurotrophic, synaptotrophic, detoxification of heme, protective against pathogens) and of glutamate (a major neurotransmitter). From these premises, we propose 1) that the brain has evolved a multi-factor response to intracerebral hemorrhage, which includes the expression of several protective molecules, including haptoglobin, hemopexin and A; and 2) that it is logical, given these premises, to posit that the four neurotoxic factors set out above, which are introduced into the brain by hemorrhage, drive the progression of the capillary-hemorrhage dementias. In this view, A expressed at the loci of neuronal death in these dementias functions not as a toxin but as a first responder, mitigating the toxicity of hemoglobin and the infection of the brain by opportunistic pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Stone
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - John Mitrofanis
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Fonds de Dotation, Clinatec, Grenoble, France
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Daniel M Johnstone
- School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
- School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Stephen R Robinson
- School of Health and Biomedical Sciences, RMIT University, Bundoora, Australia
- Institute for Breathing and Sleep, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia
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